By Sunday Oyinloye
If there are people qualified to say one or two things about the Presiding Bishop of Living Faith Church, worldwide, Dr. David Olaniyi Oyedepo, I believe I should be one of them.
You might want to ask why? Besides being a member of his church, Papa as he is fondly called by his church members and others is my cousin. His late mother is my late father’s younger sister. And they were very close. In the last years of the journey of my father on earth, every Sunday, Bishop’s mother would prepare pounded yam and dry fish and take to my father.
Besides, Bishop’s mother was very close to my mother. Though my mother was her Iyawo (wife) in Yoruba culture, but they were exceptionally close.
Another reason why I am at a vantage position to talk about Bishop Oyedepo is because we attended the same secondary school: Government Secondary School, Omu-Aran.
I never met him in school, but as a former Public Relations Officer of Government Secondary School Omu-Aran Old Boys Association, I had access to written documents that speak to his character as a student.
In those days, we used to have school magazine where the names of students and sometimes their conducts and nicknames were written in articles by students.
In one of the editions of the school magazine called Aghala Voice, all Bishop Oyedepo’s classmates had their names and what they were known for written. However, when it got to his turn, they said “He is religious and buoyant.”
Therefore, from home, school and the church, I have the privilege to know this great man of God very well.
As a teenager, he wasn’t one of those who would joke with their faith. Everyone knew him as a Born Again Christian and gave him that respect.
He was so deep in spiritual things that one of our teachers called him and said: “David, if you are going to be a full time student be a student, and if you are going to be a full time preacher, be a preacher. ”
Oyedepo was said to have responded: “ I am a full time Christian and part time student!”
Oyedepo was good in sports during his school days, particularly in hockey. And because of his high level of discipline, the school authority made him Assistant House Captain of Emir’s House
Just like his late uncle, Spiritual Father and Chairman of Cherubim & Seraphim Movement Church Worldwide, Prophet Samuel Adefila Abidoye, Bishop Oyedepo is a man who truly loves his home town and his extended family.
He is the proverbial big tree under which Omu-Aran people and the Abegunde Adukanjemeji Royal family take shield.
He built Omu-Aran City Hall for his community.
Unknown to many, Bishop Oyedepo is a prince; his mother’s father, Oba Odetundun Abegunde of blessed memory was Olomu of Omu-Aran.
Bishop Oyedepo reconstructed the palace in our compound and has been in the forefront of development projects and any personal issues affecting family members. Because of his uncommon love for the family, the old and the young call him Bishop
I remember in one of his visits to Omu-Aran many years back, he went to see my late dad as he normally does. Without telling the old man, he said the furniture in his sitting room should be changed and it was done immediately.
Anything that concerns the family, Bishop Oyedepo is always there for all. He makes sure that members of Abegunde Adukanjemeji Royal family enjoy their Christmas by giving them food and cloth every year, besides hosting them in his house. To the best of my knowledge, he has never turned his face away from anything that concerns the development of his home town.
Oyedepo is a great family lover, both for his immediate and extended family. A highly compassionate man, Papa is a loving father to the fatherless and motherless.
Another deep thing many don’t know about Bishop Oyedepo is that he feels the pains of others but never shows it, to enable him help those in such pains. He is ever joyful and always wants those around him to laugh.
Another unique thing about him is that he doesn’t sideline or look down on anyone. He believes that if anyone allows his faith to come alive, such a person can accomplish any task.
His entire life is driven by total faith in God. Bishop Oyedepo lives by what he preaches; he is kindhearted and highly disciplined. He can’t tolerate indiscipline and mediocrity. He doesn’t discriminate
Bishop loves white colours, he doesn’t like traditional outfit but wears them anyway.
His best food is what Nigerians call swallow.
He is bold, courageous and full of wisdom. His passion for winning souls for Christ is exceptional.
I give God all the glory that I am related by blood to this great man of God who has impacted positively on my life and millions of others across the globe through his teachings and prophetic declaration.
Wishing Bishop David Olaniyi Oyedepo many more years of service to God and humanity
Happy Birthday sir, and on your behalf, I say Hallelujah 70 times to our Lord, Jesus Christ.
